Well, it's wood.......

Like I said, it is wood. Saw a frame made from cut branches and I wonder what if some of the rest of the branch was used. This is a first attempt and when I find better wood it will improve. Actually I kinda like the way it looks but the wife thinks it takes up too much wall space. So it will probably wind up on the wall in my office.

Picture is my 12 y/o Red and White Border Collie. He’s nearing the end and mostly sleeps all day in my shop on the bed of shavings from my planer. He is mostly blind and was a rescued dog about to be put down. He had been a working cattle herding dog and had the busted jaw, missing teeth and crooked face to attest that cattle can kick. He deserved a better life and to be loved before it was his time. A true Texas dog, his name is Stetson.

-- I am going to go stand outside so if anyone asks about me, tell them I'M OUTSTANDING!

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That is a very touching story. I think it is wonderful to give a hardworking dog a loving home where he can enjoy his retirement. I like the picture frame a lot. It is well balanced, unique and actually quite artistic in my opinion.

I’m glad y’all appreciate the story of Stetson. We have been fostering Border Collies for over 10 years and during that time we have found homes for 31 of them. We tend to get the problem dogs that the other volunteers can’t handle. We had a 3 legged one that was hit by a car. Our vet bill was over $2,000 but he has a good home now where he is loved. We got a pregnant one that 6 days after she came to us, she had 11 puppies. The last two coming out seemed to be dead but a few minutes of mouth to muzzle and the both came around. We have had them with mange, heart worms, ear mites and one that had been starved that the only way he could eat was we rubbed his gums with honey and yogurt 6-8 times a day. It took 3 weeks for him to start eating on his own. Now he is healthy and being trained for agility competition. After you foster a dog for 4-5 months it is tough to let go of them for an adoption. Kathy cries for days after they are gone but that is part of what we do. The shelters have so many dogs, they are horrible, disease-ridden places that if the dog survives all that, it is put to sleep. These animals have a soul and they know when they have been saved. We just can’t save them all. Once we drove to Arkansas to rescue a Border Collie and came back with 5. We kept finding them. Everyone should rescue a dog. The feeling is better than woodworking or sex.

-- I am going to go stand outside so if anyone asks about me, tell them I'M OUTSTANDING!

Good for you rescuing those Border Collies! People get them not realizing that they need a job and then dump them when they don’t have a job for them and they start getting in trouble. My Betty Lou is a rescue as well and we are already pretty well bonded for life.

About the frame, Dang, you are down to the brush and branches! But you made this project work very nicely. Wish I was closer and I could keep you in inexpensive lumber so you wouldn’t have to use brush and limbs!

Great picture frame! I like the idea of letting the natural shape of the wood be the basis of the design. I also commend you on the rescue story, but I am sorry to hear the poor guy is nearing the end. I think the wife might appreciate it a bit more if you use the extra branch to display the dog tags or collar – or even the leash after the inevitable end. This could be a great memorial piece. Thanks for posting.

Andy, this is called beating the brush. All this wood came from a pile of limb trimmings someone took to the woods and dumped. Rather have them dump wood than old mattresses and burnt out hot water tanks. We get plenty of that and beer cans but sometimes the wood makes up for what little clean-up I can do.

leafherder, good idea. I hang his collar and tags on a branch when he is gone. He was in the shop with me today, sleeping on his pile of shavings and he got to snoring louder than my table saw. Usually it’s Kathy I have to listen to snore…...I think I prefer Stetson.

-- I am going to go stand outside so if anyone asks about me, tell them I'M OUTSTANDING!